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Six contractors were inside former Consumers Energy building when fire began

All-Call fire at Former Consumers Energy building

Demolition crew members wait for rescue workers to help them down a fire ladder during an all-call fire at the former Consumers Energy building, 212 W. Michigan Ave., in downtown Jackson on Friday, May 31. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

As of 3 p.m., fire crews have rescued five contractors have been evacuated from the fourth or fifth floor, according to Jackson Police Chief Matt Heins. A sixth employee was evacuated from the 11th floor, according to eye witnesses.

Art Dore, owner of Dore and Associates, said the fire comes as a surprise since they haven't faced any issues since they began dismantling the building.

"There have been no issues at all," he said. "Everything had been going well."

Since they began gutting the structure three months ago, Dore said there has only been approximately 10 people working inside the building. He does not know exactly how many people were inside the building Friday.

The building, which is owned by the City of Jackson, is expected to be completely demolished this fall.

City officials were not immediately available for comment.

The contract between Dore and the city calls for the project to be completed by Sept. 2013. The $2.29 million project is primarily funded with EPA money awarded to the city and county brownfield redevelopment authorities.

The fire is not the first hiccup the demolition has faced. The razing was delayed in March 2012 when a contractor was found to have stolen copper pipes from the structure.

The city bought the 12-story building for $300,000 in 2004; a year after the utility moved its headquarters to the other side of downtown. The city spent tens of thousands of dollars maintaining the building while trying to find new tenant and ultimately decided to tear the structure down.

Contact Will Forgrave at wforgrav@mlive.com or 517-262-7554. Follow him on Twitter at @WillForgrave.